20/21st Century Vocabulary

Question 1

Impressionism

Answer 1

A style of music from the late 1800’s, mainly associated with French composers. It focused on exotic harmonies, subtle rhythms and timbres.

Question 2

Chromatic Harmony

Answer 2

The use of “color” tones to embellish harmonies with unusual and emotional dissonances.

Question 3

Atonal

Answer 3

Music that purposely avoids the use of traditional harmonies. It tends to focus on dissonant harmonies and melodies, but might be very traditional in other elements of music.

Question 4

12-tone

Answer 4

A very structured style of composing atonal music, developed by Arnold Schoenberg.

Question 5

Experimentalism

Answer 5

A purposeful exploration of non-traditional ways to experience sound and performances.

Question 6

Populism

Answer 6

A philosophy in composing that values connection to people and serving society through music.

Question 7

Minimalism

Answer 7

A music style that embraces repetition, and applies subtle variations in melodic and rhythmic ideas.

Question 8

Rhythm

Answer 8

I’d say that rhythm is the most important characteristic, but that’s my opinion.

Question 9

Melody and harmony

Answer 9

There are many tonal systems now. (See tonality, below) There is MUCH more use of dissonance now. In the romantic period and before, you always had to “resolve” dissonances into consonances. Not anymore. Phrases can end, and don’t necessarily sound “final”.

Question 10

Form

Answer 10

Sometimes traditional forms are used, but composers were (and are) free to do what they want.

Question 11

Tonality

Answer 11

Tonality has to do with the major and minor scales, (and also those roman numerals I, V, etc).

Question 12

Impressionism (1875-1925)

Answer 12

Impressionism is almost exclusively a French off-shoot from the Romantic Period. The ideas and exploration of sound in Impressionism paved the way for many 20th Century composers and some of their radical ideas.

Question 13

What are key characteristics of Impressionist music?

Answer 13

• Timbre (tone color) takes a prominent role. Composers in this style would use instruments in interesting and creative combinations. They would also use some more modern instruments in unusual ways (muted trumpets, pedal harps, different kinds of cymbals).
• Rhythms can be very obscure, and the steady beat is very hard to find at times. Some other music might be very rhythmic, but can be very tricky and intricate in detail.
• Impressionist music is usually abstract in subject matter. It might seem programmatic, but does not always give specifics of a story, just hints and suggestions.
• The harmonies used by impressionist composers are usually very creative, abstract, and dissonant. Some of this came from using scales that were not in the Major/minor tradition of past music styles. Impressionists would use new combinations of pitches to create unusual or exotic scales - and this led to very unusual harmonies, and melodies.

Question 14

Who are the prominent composers of Impressionism?

Answer 14

Debussy and Ravel

Question 15

Atonal and 12-tone Music (1911-present)

Answer 15

Atonal music is one of the most revolutionary ideas in music history. Romantic composers at the end of the 1800s were incorporating more and more dissonance, trying to bend the traditions of harmony into new ways of individual expression. Atonal music builds off of this, and purposefully tries to break away from historical conventions. Atonal style is more of a artistic movement in music, defied hundreds of years of tradition, led to a wide exploration of musical values, and even questioning of the elements of music. Some atonal composers and pieces are likely most influential things in music, but ironically you probably have never heard of them.

Question 16

What are key characteristics of Atonal music?

Answer 16

• Traditional harmonies were absolutely avoided. Since the 1500s, European composers had focused music on a finite grammar of harmonies, a set collection of chords. Atonal composers sought to explore sound and expression in newer ways, and purposefully avoided traditional harmonies. This has two very significant effects: 1) Harmonies in most atonal music are VERY dissonant, and 2) Melodies are almost always very abstract and un-tuneful.
• Atonal music is often very organized in its form. Some of this music weaves very intricate polyphonic textures. Most listeners might think it is just a pile of random pitches. However, this is far from true. Atonal masterworks are usually highly organized and planned out.
• Atonal is a generic term, referencing music that avoids traditional harmonic and melodic patterns. 12-tone is a term that is more specific in how atonal music can be organized. The 12-tone language is a specific grammar for composing and understanding atonal music. Serial music is an even more specific variation of 12-tone composition.

Question 17

Who are the prominent composers of atonal music?

Answer 17

Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern

Question 18

Experimentalism (1911-present, but it really became more popular in the 1950s)

Answer 18

Atonal composers opened the door for Experimentalism. Atonal composers showed that music could be freed from the expectations of history, and that music could evolve into unique forms of human expression. Experimentalists embrace this value, and truly explore the idea of sound. Perhaps the way to understand this music is to ask yourself, “What is music?” Experimentalist music often will force to to confront this question, and try to make decisions about how music serves humans as an art form. Experimentalism is perhaps the most radical and defiant modern music style.

Question 19

What are key characteristics of Experimentalist music?

Answer 19

• Anything goes! The important ingredient seems to be sound (most of the time).
• Some experimentalists use untraditional objects as instruments. Maybe breaking glass, power tool sounds, of other objects framed in a musical context.
• Sometimes instruments are played in very unusual ways. For example: the “prepared piano” is a normal acoustic piano, but with materials shoved into some of the piano wires. The result is a very unique timbre quality. Another way instruments could be played in unusual manner - instead of using the keys to make sound on the piano, the player reaches into the instrument and plucks the strings with her fingers.
• Some experimentalist music is aleatoric - based on chance. This usually happens in a couple of ways: 1) the composer might use some random way to determine pitches or rhythms in the composition. Rolling dice, flipping a coin, etc. 2) Players might have passages in a composition that give no specifics, just general ideas. Tempo, pitches, and rhythms might be made up on the spot. Kind of like improvisation, but usually much more dissonant and noisy sounding.

Question 20

Who are the prominent composers of the experimentalist style?

Answer 20

• John Cage (the most widely recognized name in experimentalism.
• George Anthie (a rebel in his time, and laid the groundwork for other experimentalists.)
• Edgard Varèse (father of electronic music, and composed pieces for percussion ensembles)

Question 21

Populism (1920-present)

Answer 21

Populists sought to connect to listeners by offering traditional forms, familiar melodies, and conventional use of instruments. Populists were influenced by the rhythmic and harmonic freedom of other modern music styles, but they sought to compose music that served people, and connected humans to each other through a shared experience. For a populist, music was not just self expression, it was a way to unite ideas and emotions across different people - through music.

Question 22

What are key characteristics of Populist music?

Answer 22

• Sometimes uses familiar melodies, or familiar programmatic stories. There is often a effort to connect to what people know. Folk tales, folk songs, fairy tales, etc.
• Harmonies tend to be modern, but not always dissonant and harsh like atonal composers. Populist music does not sound like Romantic period dissonance. There is usually a more modern quality to the harmonies.
• Some Populists used the emergence of Jazz and Blues as a platform for expression. These composers wrote music that pulled chords, rhythms, and melodies from jazz music - and brought these influences into the formal chamber music and orchestra settings.
• Some populists tried to compose music that would also serve the musicians. Paul Hindemith wanted to write great music for all instruments. While historically, many composers focused on violin and piano as solo instruments, Hindemith sought to write quality music for instruments that rarely got to be featured. Hindemith wrote solo works for viola, tuba, trombone, bassoon, and much more! Hindemith also tried to write music that was technically not too advanced, so that a decent amateur musician could prepare and performa his works.

Question 23

Who are the prominent composers of the populist style?

Answer 23

Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, George Gershwnin

Question 24

Minimalism (~1960-present)

Answer 24

Compared to other modern music styles, minimalism reflects its name - it uses minimal material. It is like a reaction to all the complex and chaotic embellishments of Impressionist, Atonal, and Experimental styles. Minimalism is also a reaction against the familiarity of Populism. Minimalism is a unique and new perspective on what music can be, and frames the elements of music with its own values and meanings.

Question 25

What are key characteristics of Minimalist music?

Answer 25

• Rhythmic and melodic repetition is usually a key component in Minimalist music. Small rhythmic ideas, repeated over and over. This is often the most noticeable trait in minimalism.
• Melodic ideas are also often very short, and repeated over and over.
• Did I mention repetition? Over, and over, and over, and over…. This repetition sets up a trance-like effect - so when a small change happens, it is noticed. Drama occurs in the smallest changes, because of the saturation the repetition sets up.
• Harmonies in minimalism can be dissonant or consonant, usually they are not so dissonant that it seems triking.

Question 26

Who are the prominent composers of the minimalist style?

Answer 26

Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams

Question 27

Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918)

Answer 27

Impressionism

• Debussy used unusual harmonies to create imaginative colors and dissonances. He was influenced by non-European music, as well as ancient music styles.
• Debussy often used subtle rhythms, giving an ambiguous feel to the music. - Although Debussy used dissonances liberally, the music usually is not harsh on the ears. His delivery and context of dissonances often make the music feel soft, and gentle.

Question 28

Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937)

Answer 28

Impressionism

• Ravel also had exotic influences, like Debussy. He used exotic harmonies and dissonances. However, much of Ravel’s music has a more obvious rhythmic drive and obvious meter to it.
• One of Ravel’s most famous works is Bolero. It shows the rhythmic drive of Ravel’s music. It is also one long crescendo - the music just keeps getting louder and louder, from the start to the end!

Question 29

Stravinsky (1882 - 1971)

Answer 29

Igor Stravinsky is a composer that is hard to classify, yet his compositions were key to many artistic break-throughs in the early 1900s. Maybe he is his own category of music? Stravinsky started off as a late Romantic composer, but then evolved, and continued to evolve over the course of his lifetime.

1910 - The Firebird was the first of three important ballets by Stravinsky. In 1910 this music would have sounded completely new and unique.

1911 - Petrushka is another ballet, and is like a strange sci-fi or Twilight Zone story.

1913 - The Rite of Spring might be one of the most famous pieces in all Western music.

Question 30

Arnold Schoenberg (1874 - 1951)

Answer 30

Atonal

• Very early compositions by Schoenberg are actually tonal, and very advanced Romantic chromatic harmonies.
• But not soon after, Schoenberg starts to leave tonality, and explore sounds and harmonies outside of any traditional melodic or harmonic context.
• Perhaps the most famous work by Schoenberg is his surreal Pierrot Lunaire.

Question 31

Anton Webern (1883 - 1945), and Alban Berg (1885 - 1935)

Answer 31

Atonal
The two Schoenberg students that embraced his atonal “12-tone” system of composition. These composers leared and applied Scheonberg’s methods into their compositions.

Question 32

Charles Ives (1874 - 1954)

Answer 32

Experimentalism
- Disclaimer: not all musicians think of Ives as an experimentalist. Ives was seemingly fearless with his creativity, and freedom to explore dissonance, ridiculousness, and the absurd. Because his main career was as a businessman, he could do whatever he wanted to as a composer. He was not slave to any publisher, commissioning patron, or ticket sales at concerts. I think that this pioneering attitude, and fearless application of creative ideas makes him an -Experimentalist - maybe the first one?

• Ives’ Country band March might be the most played piece he composed. Often played by bands, and sometimes by orchestras.
• The most crazy piece I know of by Ives is his Yale Princeton Football Game.

Question 33

John Cage (1912 - 1992)

Answer 33

Experimentalism

• Cage is a controversy to this day. His radical idea that any sound can be musical is debated to this day. Was he a genius? Was he mad? Was he serious or just a smart-ass? Perhaps the most important thing was not that you agreed or disagreed with John Cage, but that his music makes you confront the ideas of what you think music is.
• 4’33” is probably the most famous “composition” by Cage.

Question 34

Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990)

Answer 34

Populism

• Aaron Copland is considered by many to be the father of American classical music. He used folk music melodies, American storylines, and jazz style as influences for his music. His catchy tunes and ties to familiar American themes make him a populist. He did use dissonances and modern influences, but always seems to try to appeal to listeners.
• Copland’s ballet Rodeo depicts cowboys on a ranch. The section called Hoedown is a favorite for many listeners
• Another very famous work by Copland is his Fanfare for the Common Man. This is performed a lot at patriotic events, and sometimes even the Olympics.

Question 35

Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963)

Answer 35

Populism

• Hindemith tried to compose music that had melodies and harmonies listeners would understand. They do have modern feels to them, but they are not as dissonant or abstract as atonal or experimentalist composers. Hindemith also tried to write quality music that average musicians might be able to play. He did not compose just for the most polished professionals. He also tried to compose good quality pieces for instruments that rarely got featured as solo instruments: trombone, tuba, string bass, etc.
• Symphonic Metamorphosis is a fantastic work for large orchestra. It uses music from an early German Romantic composer, Weber.

Question 36

Steve Reich (1936 - present)

Answer 36

Minimalism

• Reich is probably the first recognized pioneer of Minimalism. He explored a variety of ways to use small ideas (cells), repeat them, layer them, and gently add in variation. Reich is a percussionist, so some of his works are fascinating applications of percussion ensembles (no other instruments besides percussion).
• Clapping Music s a great example of how Reich uses one rhythmic idea, and shifts it against itself to create interesting rhythmic variations.

Question 37

Philip Glass (1937 - present)

Answer 37

Minimalism

• Applies a lot of similar techniques to Reich, but Glass’ music is often more melodic in focus, and not just of rhythms. Glass tends to use sets of pitches in repetition, and creates variations as time passes. He is also very interested in using electronic instruments as well as traditional acoustic instruments.
• The film Koyaanisqatsi had a huge impact on many people. This music and film were meant to be one experience.

Question 38

John Adams (1947 - present)

Answer 38

Minimalism

• John Adams is a little more fluid with ideas that Reich or Glass. He does use lots of repetition, but it is often little less obvious, and includes change quicker than other minimalists we have looked at. Adams is a very popular composer in the world right now.
• Short Ride in a Fast Machine is a fun piece of music. It is fast, rhythmic, repetitive, but interesting.
• Becoming Ocean was recorded by the Seattle Symphony. It won a Grammy award. Many people think this is an outstanding piece of music and recording. It is very subtle, very still, and long.
• After the terrorist attack on 9/11, John Adams was commissioned to compose a piece in memory of the victims. The Transmigration of Souls is a touching, haunting, and powerful work for orchestra, chorus, and electronics.

Question 39

Phasing using slightly different tempos

Answer 39

There’s one type of phasing, which is simply when one musician plays at a slightly different tempo than the other. Examples of this are the early experimentation he did with tape loops, such as “It’s Gonna Rain,” and also “Piano Phase.” For the live performances, I don’t know how they can maintain the discipline to do just the tempo phasing!

Question 40

Phasing by “shifting”

Answer 40

“Clapping Music” and “New York Counterpoint” are both examples of where the music shifts at certain times. After you hear “Clapping Music” and then look at the image at the bottom, you can see that the second clapper just shifts the pattern one note over. There isn’t a tempo change here.

Question 41

Nadia Boulanger (1887 - 1979)

Answer 41

Most of the classical music composers that we study in history are men. However, the single most influential composition teacher in the 20th century was a woman - Nadia Boulanger.

Boulanger was a composer, but she was far more important as a composition teacher. The list of top composers who DID NOT study with her would be small.

Question 42

George Gershwin (1898 - 1937) American composer

Answer 42

George Gershwin was famous both for being a classical composer who used jazz elements, and also for his popular songwriting early in the century. He’s most known today for two large-scale pieces of music (Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy & Bess), and many of his pop songs. These songs are part of the foundation for jazz vocalists and many other musicians.

Gershwin’s songs are used often today by jazz musicians, and they’re an important part of what we call “the great American songbook”. It’s not actually a book – it’s really referring to the heritage of songs written for musicals and older pop tunes.

Question 43

“Summertime” from Porgy & Bess

Answer 43

“Summertime” is probably the most famous song from Porgy & Bess, and it has been performed by people from classical musicians to pop stars.

Question 44

Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990) American composer, conductor, educator, genius

Answer 44

Bernstein was known for his conducting and educating. He was also a pianist and a celebrity. Bernstein wrote the music for West Side Story.

I think he was the first American to be the music director of a major symphony, the New York Philharmonic. That’s who he filmed the Young People’s Concerts with. In his later years, he spent the most time conducting.